The Imperial Presidency

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.” (Preamble to the Constitution)

America is a Federal Republic, not a democracy. The Pledge of Allegiance clearly says “and to the republic.” Neither the Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution mentions the word “democracy.”

Sovereignty was intended by our Founders to reside with the American people, hence “We the people.” The Constitution called for providing for the defense and did not provide for an offense (i.e., foreign intervention in other peoples’ civil/religious conflicts).

Regarding the powers of Congress, Article I Section 8 of the Constitution reads, “to provide and maintain a navy” (to provide for the common defense). Article I Section 8 does not call for providing a standing army, but rather “to raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years.”

Barack Obama has no authority under the Constitution to intervene in the business of Iraq, of Syria, or of Ukraine. And the majority of Americans support this conclusion. It is hoped that the members of the Senate and House vote according to the mandate of both the Constitution and the American people. No more money for foreign adventurism. No president since WWII has overstepped the bounds of the Constitution more than has Obama. Perhaps this is why a recent highly regarded poll labeled Obama the worst president since WWII.

In his oath of office, Obama swore on the Bible to defend the Constitution. Article II Section II of the Constitution details the explicit powers and duties of the president. Do you know how many words in the constitution are devoted to powers and duties of the president? About 300 words. That’s it. The president has the power to grant reprieves and pardons, make treaties, appoint ambassadors ministers, consuls and judges of the Supreme Court (with the advice and consent of the senate), and fill Senate recess vacancies.

Not much of a list, is it? Of course not because the Founders intended the presidency to be weak, even part time, shaking hands and kissing babies. An imperial presidency, as fashioned by Barack Obama and most of the politicians in Washington, was not in the cards.

“To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race.” (President Calvin Coolidge, 1872-1933)